St. Joseph Catholic School fourth-graders learned about energy efficiency and electrical safety on Jan. 15 from Stearns Electric Association employees.
Prior to the presentations, students learned about basic electricity principles as part of their school curriculum. Throughout the one-hour sessions, students reviewed the things they had learned, including the different types of electricity, conductors and insulators and sources of energy.
Students also came up with ideas on how they can conserve more energy at home.
Stearns Electric’s energized home and farm model showed students what can happen when they get too close to electrical equipment.
The most important piece of knowledge students walked away with was information on how to react in a vehicle accident involving any electrical equipment. You should always stay in your vehicle if it hits a power pole, unless your vehicle is on fire. If your vehicle is on fire near a power pole, you should jump out of your vehicle, keeping your feet together and shuffle as far away from the accident as you can.
Following each live demonstration, one student was selected to dress up as a line worker.
Donning a hard hat, rubber gloves, pole climbers, safety glasses and a utility belt, these students experienced equipment line workers use.
Stearns Electric line worker Mike Siemers demonstrates the live home and farm model.
Fourth-grader Teresa Nix dresses as a line worker.
